He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments.
In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was sent abroad till the war ended in 1945. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned barbering from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, The Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them. He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, Trying, which charted in 1952.
In 1954 he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee as music director. He subsequently formed his own orchestra, which had a big hit in that same year with Melody of Love. He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half, and based purely on chart successes, was the most successful orchestra leader of all time.
Goodnight
Billy Vaughn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Good night sweetheart, sleep will banish sorrow
Tears and parting may make us forlorn
But with the dawn, a new day is born (so I'll say)
Good night sweetheart, tho' I'm not beside you
Good night sweetheart, still my love will guide you
Dreams enfold you, in each one I'll hold you
Good night sweetheart, good night
Good night sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow
Good night sweetheart, sleep will banish sorrow
Tears and parting may make us forlorn
But with the dawn, a new day is born
(so I'll say) Good night sweetheart, tho' I'm not beside you
Good night sweetheart, still my love will guide you
Dreams enfold you, in each one I'll hold you
Good night sweetheart, good night
The song "Goodnight" by Billy Vaughn is a sweet and tender piece that touches upon the theme of separation and yearning for one another. As the lyrics suggest, the song is essentially a brief farewell to a lover or a loved one, who may either be travelling, moving away or otherwise physically separated. Despite the distance, the song promises that the love will endure and that the two will reunite again with the dawn of a new day. The lyrics are laced with the promise of hope and the idea that, even though separation may cause moments of loneliness and sadness, the love and the memories created will keep the spirit alive till the next time they meet.
It is worth noting that as the song progresses, it moves from a statement of fact to a more hopeful, almost a prayer-like tone. The lyrics affirm the love and tenderness of the relationship, while also evoking the idea of trust and faith. The belief that love has the power to soothe and heal the wounds of separation is especially evident in the lines "sleep will banish sorrow" and "still my love will guide you". The song is even more poignant given the current circumstances when keeping in touch with loved ones is an absolute necessity, reminding us of the power of love when it comes to staying connected.
Line by Line Meaning
Good night sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow
I bid farewell, my darling, until we reunite on the coming day
Good night sweetheart, sleep will banish sorrow
I wish you a peaceful sleep, my love, to rid yourself of any sadness
Tears and parting may make us forlorn
Crying and saying goodbye can make us feel downhearted
But with the dawn, a new day is born (so I'll say)
However, when the sun rises, a fresh beginning commences (thus I bid)
Good night sweetheart, tho' I'm not beside you
Albeit I'm not physically with you, dear, I still bid you goodnight
Good night sweetheart, still my love will guide you
I still love you and my affection will lead you through the night
Dreams enfold you, in each one I'll hold you
While you dream, I'll embrace you in every one of them
Good night sweetheart, good night
Farewell, my sweet love, goodnight
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JIMMY CAMPBELL, RAY NOBLE, REG CONNELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marilu Leon
Precioso.
Marilu Leon
Ahora que escucho este tema pienso en TI,Dulce Angel mio...y recuerdo las muchas veces en las que has hablado de la soledad,pese a que nada te faltaba,en apariencia... Mi corazon se encoge de pena,pensando en las veces que no pude estar a tu lado y acomañarte. Ojala lo que siento por TI te llegue de algun modo.TE AMO.
Glennsten Bergkvist
I think this is a less inspired (and a somewhat wimpy version, as well) of the song than that which appears on BV's I Don't Know How to Love Him album.